Match Report: Vauxhall Motors vs Harrogate Town

In a match in which Craig MacGillivray was sent to hospital with a serious leg injure and later thankfully only diagnosed as severe bruising, Town secured sixth place with a 1-0 win.

On a dusty, uneven pitch, both sides struggled to master the windy conditions.

Town made the early running with Colin Larkin and Michael Woods creating an opening for Dan Clayton who scuffed his shot at Zac Jones in the home goal.

Town had a penalty appeal waved away by Referee Ackerman, before Motors moved into top gear.

Matt Bloomer cleared from Obi Anorua after he had been played in by Luke Dean’s misplaced pass and Tom Hannigan headed Karl Noon’s free kick wide, before Chris Noone shook Town’s crossbar.

Town hit back and a delightful one-two between Larkin and Woods, saw the latter flick just wide.

Dave Merris almost scored with a thirty yard free kick which flashed past the upright.

A strong run and cross by Clayton ended with Woods heading over and the half finished with Clayton’s corner hitting Vauxhall’s crossbar.

On 55 minutes Adam Bolder and Danny Forrest replaced Dwayne Samuels and Paul Bolland,but it was Motor’s Tom Rutter who contrived to miss an open goal from Ashley Stott’s cross who squandered the game’s best chance.

Merris and Beesley set up Woods, whose goal was denied by an offside flag, but with seven minutes left the game caught fire.

The referee played advantage after a Merris foul and MacGillivray sustained his injury when he raced out to thwart the onrushing Stephen Wainwright.

For the second time in a week, Bloomer had to take over in goal and Town played on with ten men, as they had used all their subs.

After a long delay, Town broke the deadlock on 90 minutes when the excellent Larkin sent Forrest down the left and he cut through the defence to slip the ball past Jones.

Town’s Woods was sent off after a scuffle in the corner as he tried to run the clock down, but the nine men held out for the remaining five minutes of stoppage time,to record a well earned victory.